Lapland for Xmas?

[scz4]

Evening all,

Lapland and the arctic circle have always been on the list of places to see visit and now would be the perfect age with the kids 4 & 6. So thinking for 4 nights over xmas, with the added bonus of possibly seeing the northern lights. Been looking into it and the cost of travel and hotel is surprisingly cheap with a few "last minute" offers, but holly s**t any activities are horrendously expensive, €192 pp for a 3.5 hours snowmobile and reindeer trip - http://www.laplandsafaris.com/en/


My questions are:

- Is there the opportunity to do the same experiences, but further from Rovaniemi? Got to be significantly cheaper?
- or booking direct once there, cut out the tour companies?
- How is eating out price wise? Don't want to feel like we're being taken advantage as tourists.
- Is there enough to do over xmas there? Looks like most things are open?
- Anyone stayed at the Hotel Sokos Vaakuna? How is it location wise?

Any other information or advice gratefully received.

Cheers
Graeme

Edited by scz4 on Friday 2nd December 20:38